Italian footballer dies after collapsing during Serie B match

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Updated 0838 GMT (1538 HKT) April 15, 2012

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Tragedy strikes Italian football – Livorno midfielder Piermario Morosini playing against Pescara on Saturday. The former Italy under-21 international collapsed during the game against Pescara and later died in hospital.

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Frantic efforts to revive Morosini – Medics treat Morosini on the pitch in Pescara after he suffered a heart-attack during the Serie B match.

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Matches postponed after Morosini's death – AC Milan's players acknowledge the crowd after the cancellation of the Serie A match against Genoa on Saturday.

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The 25-year-old suffered a heart attack during first half of game against Pescara

Italian footballer Piermario Morosini has died after collapsing during a Serie B match at Pescara on Saturday, according to Italian media reports.

The 25-year-old collapsed after suffering a heart attack during the first half of the game of the match between Pescara and Livorno in Italian football's second division.

He was treated on the pitch before being rushed by ambulance to Pescara's Civile Santo Spirito hospital but was later pronounced dead.

A statement on the official Serie A web site said: "The world of soccer is in mourning for the tragedy that took place this afternoon in Pescara, where during a match between the home team and Livorno, the soccer player Piermario Morosini collapsed on the ground (struck down) by a heart attack.

"The young midfield player came under pharmacological coma, but he died around 17:00."

Morosini, a former Italy under-21 international, was on loan at Livorno from Serie A side Udinese.

The match was immediately abandoned and the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) announced a short time later that all football fixtures this weekend have been canceled.